(A/N: Decided to change POV WHENEVER I want. Don't get confused. And ignore that fact that I didn't note how I did that in the first chapter…)

It Only Hurts When I Breathe

I'm A Believer

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Paper. Paper is wonderful. I don't think there ever was a time I was more grateful for it. Yes, that's right! I'm gaining vocabulary and dialect other than what's been passed to me! I'm still not smart, but I'm definitely no the same little idiot I was at nine.

Like how I don't spell "four" with a "Q" anymore.

Anyway, back to paper.

Lately I've taken to drawing. Not that I'm good at it, no, but I've been sketching the tree house… Because I still want a part of this time in my life to still be here.

But today, today is special.

I spent all last night trying to draw Franny right. Never turned out, but I've been up since six and I swear I am ALMOST there.

She has a normal head, which is a big improvement. As much as I'd like to just get rid of this whole period of time (inevitable anyway) this is the best memory I've ever had.

This is building me up to be what I am to be, whatever it is.

It's crazy, but get this, I like reading… Not good at that, either, nor do I do it a lot, but I actually enjoy sitting down from time to time with a nice chapter book. Usually, they still have pictures in them, but I've read at least four, that's right, my number in book, that didn't have pictures.

I laugh about that sometimes. I'm a nerd! It's not true, of course. I'm not even defending myself. But when I grow up, there is no way that the nerds would let me join their clique.

And that's, well, a little bit… Sad… And…

Okay, so I fell asleep.

I'm not a morning person, OKAY?

Numbuh Five walked in on me sleeping all over Franny… Hasn't let up on the torment, yet. Also, failed to notice the faded "Happy BIRTHDAY!" tracing my arm in ink.

She woke me up only after fiver minutes… I think we each have some sort of psychic connection to our "Numbuh"s … Huh.

We're making eggs, now.

Actually, she's teaching me how to make eggs.

We are doing this because:

a) We're hungry, which is obvious, as… FOOD.

b) We are bored. Bored out of our minds, bored, because no one gets up at SIX! IT'S INHUMAN! So, of course, make food!

"…And then you just flip the egg, and… Numbuh Four? What's up? You okay?"

I nodded, trying sincerely to believe I was… But Kuki and Hoagie just walked out. Hand in hand, they walked up to me, solemn and grim.

It seemed so foreign on Kuki. It seemed like something had changed in her, so much so that it almost made me want to cry, and that's saying something. "Numbuh Four…" they both started, in creepy monotone. Kuki finished alone with, "we need to talk to you."

Abby gave me a funny look as I walked away. It was somewhere between suspicion and concern. So I shot her a reassuring smile.

Following them to the room so choke full of items from the Aviators' catalog that I wondered why we never realized that we are supporting adults, giving them monopoly over companies which have the complete ability to use propaganda. Huh.

"So…" I started, looking away from their prying eyes, and sitting on Hoagie's bed. "Whatcha wanna talk ta me about?"

Ha. I knew full well what this was about.

"We…" Hoagie began, looking uncomfortable. He nudged Kuki, and she started for him. "We just wanted to tell you that we're sorry, that you're one of our best friends and we don't want to ruin that… So… Will you go out with me?"

Well.

Wasn't expecting that.

(Short and cliffy! I am EVIL. Please R&R.)